Hearing aids are an important investment in your long-term health and wellbeing. When you invest in a pair, you want to know that they are going to last a long time.
Let’s examine the typical life cycle of hearing aids, as well as steps you can take to help ensure they last longer and perform at their peak level.
Hearing Aid Lifespans
The average hearing aid lasts about five or six years. After that time, they naturally start to wear out, and function at a lower level.
While it’s understandable that you might hope your hearing aids would last longer, hearing aid technology is advancing so rapidly that upgrading after five years allows users to experience better and newer hearing treatments.
How to Make Your Hearing Aids Last Longer 
Proper care and maintenance of your hearing aids are the best way to prolong their lifespan. Most hearing aid users are wearing their devices from the time they wake up in the morning until they go to bed at night. That’s 18 hours of daily use!
What that also means is that for 18 hours every day your hearing aids are being exposed to moisture, humidity and ear wax buildup, among other elements. This can take a toll.
It’s important to clean your hearing aids daily to keep them performing well for the longest amount of time. Simply wipe them down nightly before you go to bed.
You will also want to schedule regular professional cleanings and checkups for your hearing aids. You do this for the same reason you take your car to a place like Green Valley Automotive for a tune-up. During these checkups, your hearing professional can do a more thorough clean and check for any damage or needed updates.
It’s important to store your hearing aids in a cool, dry place every night. Look into getting a dehumidifier or drying box for your hearing aids to rid them of excess moisture and prevent corrosion inside your device.
Keeping Up with Technology
Much like your smartphone, hearing aid technology is constantly changing and improving. It may feel overwhelming to keep up with ever-evolving advancements. Your audiologist can play an invaluable role in helping you understand how to get the most from your device.
During an online roundtable on hearing technology development hosted by The Hearing Journal, President of the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) Dr. Angela Shoup stated:
“Advances in technology that can offer additional benefits to patients are always an opportunity to positively impact their quality of life. However, I do think these do not replace the critical role of the audiologist. In many cases, there is an increased need for the person to have access to knowledgeable skilled providers who can review the many options and identify those best suited to meet the individuals’ hearing care needs.”
For more information or to schedule an evaluation with an audiologist, call Arizona Hearing Specialists today.